Tirumala laddu ghee row rocks AP Council: YSRCP claims Heritage-Indapur Dairy link, seeks probe

Amaravati: The proceedings of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council were repeatedly disrupted on Friday.

The opposition YSRCP demanded an adjournment motion to debate alleged irregularities in the procurement of ghee for Tirumala laddu, claiming links between Indapur Dairy and Heritage Foods, a firm associated with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s family.

YSRCP wanted adjournment motion to discuss ‘ghee procurement scam’

The House witnessed repeated disruptions after the Chairman disallowed the adjournment motion moved by the opposition, prompting YSRCP members to raise slogans and leading to sharp exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches.

The YSRCP members sought to move an adjournment motion to discuss what they termed a ‘ghee procurement scam’ involving inflated contracts and alleged favoritism towards Indapur Dairy.

Council Chairman Koyye Moshenu Raju, however, rejected the notices for adjournment. In protest, opposition members stormed into the Well of the House, raising slogans and attempting to stall proceedings.

The situation escalated when YSRCP legislators held pictures of Sri Venkateswara Swamy inside the House.

Govt objects to Opposition carrying deity while wearing footwear

Finance and Legislative Affairs Minister Payyavula Keshav objected to the Opposition members carrying images of the deity while wearing footwear. He termed it a ‘sacrilegious act’ and accused the YSRCP of lacking faith and politicising religious sentiments.

Members of the ruling coalition condemned the opposition’s conduct, while YSRCP leaders countered that the government was trying to divert attention from the core issue of alleged tender irregularities.

Opposition alleges inflated ghee contracts

Leader of Opposition Botsa Satyanarayana pressed for a detailed debate, alleging that the price of ghee supplied for Tirumala laddu had nearly doubled under the present regime.

He claimed that ghee earlier procured at around Rs 320 per kg was now being supplied at approximately Rs 700 per kg through Indapur Dairy, which he alleged has links with Heritage Foods. He accused the government of facilitating inflated contracts and causing loss to the public exchequer.

Jagan alleges govt’s favouritism to disqualified firms

YSRCP president and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, addressing a press conference a day earlier, alleged that irregularities in the supply of adulterated ghee occurred during the TDP government’s tenure.

He claimed that disqualified firms were reinstated, rejected tankers were accepted and contracts were awarded at inflated rates to favoured companies.

According to him, Heritage Foods altered its operational status soon after Indapur Dairy’s name surfaced and secured a contract to supply ghee at Rs 650 per kg, despite earlier supplies being made at rates between Rs 278 and Rs 321 per kg.

He further alleged that the irregularities during the TDP regime were reflected in a CBI chargesheet and accused Chief Minister Naidu of attempting to shift the blame onto political opponents.

TTD says Heritage never supplied ghee to TTD

Meanwhile, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Chairman BR Naidu dismissed the allegations, stating that Heritage Foods had never supplied ghee to TTD.